As a self-proclaimed cookie monster, it pains me to admit that I only have one recipe for cookies on my blog. Just one. BUT! Thanks to a quiet and somber Sunday afternoon, I now have two cookie recipes. Allow me to introduce you to the newest cookie to grace the Spoons family: vegan chocolate chip pumpkin oatmeal cookies…
A few notes about these cookies…
First, they were very much accidentally vegan. What I mean is that I didn’t originally set out with the intention of making them vegan — a lack of eggs coupled with no motivation to head out to the store and buy some forced my hand and vegan cookies were born. Huzzah! The best part about vegan baking? Being able to enjoy raw cookie dough without the fear of food poisoning.
Second, I was originally planning to make iced pumpkin oatmeal cookies, but if you’ll look above and note the laziness I mentioned in point #1, you’ll realize that tossing in a handful of chocolate chips was infinitely easier than whipping up a 5-minute batch of icing… So, non-iced chocolate chip pumpkin oatmeal cookies were born, which is probably a blessing in disguise because everyone knows that chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are the best ones out there, and that pumpkin and chocolate make a killer combo. Win, win.
Third, this recipe makes 12 cookies. One dozen. You can go ahead and double or triple it if you want more, but if you’re anything like me, you get tired of eating the same thing after the third or fourth cookie/muffin/slice, so keeping batches small is the way to go. It also means more opportunity to bake new things.
Fourth, fifth, and sixth… These are delicious. I am obsessed. Go make them now.
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup unrefined sugar
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp. ground ginger
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1½ Tbsp. canola oil
- ¼ cup dairy free chocolate chips (can also use regular)
- Preheat oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a cookie sheet or cover it with parchment paper.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices. Mix until well combined and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, pumpkin, and vanilla, then stir in oil to incorporate.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Using a rounded tablespoon, drop dough onto prepared baking sheets, and flatten slightly.
- Bake 10-12 minutes, or until edges begin to turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
You may notice that the recipe doesn’t call for any flax or chia “eggs” — this is because it doesn’t need any. The pumpkin does a good job at binding the ingredients together, while simultaneously adding a slight cakiness to the overall texture.
If you’re not a big fan of cakey cookies, you needn’t worry about not liking these guys. The fact that I was out of eggs was actually a blessing in disguise because eggs tend to add to the cakiness factor, so a lack of egg leads to a significantly less cakey cookie. What you’re left with is a cookie that’s wonderfully chewy on the outside, and become softer towards the centre. Perfection.
. – . – . – .
Are you a fan of raw cookie dough? Do you eat it even when eggs are involved?
Are you getting pumpkin’d out yet?
Health coach, recipe developer, food photographer, makeup junkie, oatmeal addict, and general lover of life.
Sooo one of my best friends and I are making pumpkin cookies today. I may be looking to this recipe instead since my mouth is literally watering looking at them!
You know we already mentioned how pumpkin cookies are basically a serving of vegetables 😉
HECK YES I EAT THE RAW
and encourage the child to too.
Im a misfit mama
Mmm… Pumpkin and chocolate, great minds think alike 😉 And I’m just like you, if I’m out of ingredients, there’s no way I’m running to the store. I do a lot of improvising in my kitchen!
You had to one-up me with Nutella 😛 Although, in my defense, I can’t eat it…
Boy, do I have a lot of recipes to try!!! 😉 Pinned and will be making asap. They sound and look awesome Amanda!
And, I could never get pumpkin’d out! I love it too much!
Omg, yes. Officially convinced, yum!
Oooh yeah these look so soft and delicious! I love eating raw cookie dough and vegan cookies are perfect for that
Chocolate is much better than icing (says my PMS inflicted self). It gets all ooey gooey and rich and amazing. Ahh. Also, love that these are egg-free. I never have eggs in the house, and it’s fabulous to not have to go out and buy any for a few cookies.
Pumpkin is seemingly a year-round obsession here in Oz; I will never tire of it. These look great!
Awesome!
Oh, and soooo great to hear about your positive experience lacing your runners back up
Aww thanks girl! Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for it to keep up!
Will definitely be making these soon! For some reason, I am really into pumpkin this year. Last year, I bought maybe one can and maybe used half of it.
I’m already on to can #2 in just under a week! GO ME!
It’s the same with me! Last year I think I only ended up going through two cans, and I didn’t even touch any squash. But this year? Holy.wow I’m making up for lost time…
These do look pretty fantastic! Oatmeal and chocolate chip is the best way to go, especially when pumpkin is added to the mix.
And as for raw cookie dough? Let’s just say it’s a slight miracle that I’ve never gotten food poisoning (knock on wood). I remember as a kid at sleepovers a favourite ‘snack’ was pulling rolls of Pillsbury cookie dough out of the fridge and passing it around.
So basically, I should probably cook more vegan things so I’m less likely to make myself horribly sick with my love for raw dough.
Call me a rebel but I’ll eat cookie dough whenever…samolina or not!! However I would feel much safer eating vegan cookie dough! These cookies look AMAZING- have you considered submitting it to Food Gawker? Major, for lack of better term, food porn right here ;)! Canned pumpkin puree isn’t available in Mumbai but you are making me consider taking a few cans back to make these cookies there- let’s see what the luggage allowance situation is like when I start packing tonight! And if you are bored before you finish your batch may I suggest turning leftovers into ice cream sandwiches??
Yay! Cookies!:) Aren’t pumpkin and oatmeal just addictive in a cookie, but in a great way?:) SO much better than pumpkin oats in a bowl! I’m kinda sad mine are gone from my last batch- thanks for inspiring me to make more!:) Love the way pumpkin takes care of the eggs deal, even in an egg free baking success by accident!:) PS- what kind of camera do you have? These are great shots!
Thanks girl! I use a Canon EOS7D.
Looks like a completely perfect cookie to me! How do you take such beautiful pictures of cookies…. that’s one food that I struggle with in the photo department. Pinning these for a rainy day!
Cookies can be ridiculously tough to photograph — I agree! I end up just taking a lot of different shots, both planned and spontaneous, and then choose the ones that look the best. It usually takes a lot longer than my others though.
Oh yum! These look perfect. I didn’t know that pumpkin acted as a binder in vegan cookies. That’s awesome. Can’t wait to see the next recipe too!
Thank you Amanda! I wanted to make some oatmeal cookies for my little ones but I am out of butter. I do have olive oil…so will substitute that. Of cpurse I always have choc chips! This will be my afternoon project today!
First, these look AMAZING! Second, I love that they are vegan (even if it was an accident! ;)). Third, do you think I could replace the canola oil with coconut oil?
Definitely. That was actually going to be my first oil of choice, but I didn’t have any on hand 😆 Apparently, I really need to go shopping…
Look at you and this amazing recipe! I’m impressed! Yum, yum, yum!
For me, it’s pumpkin season year round but it’s more acceptable once fall comes around for the year 😉 So no, I’m nowhere NEAR being pumpkin-ed out. BRING IT ON! And I will eat any and all cookie dough whether it has raw eggs or not. I’ve had a bit of a stomach ache far too many times from eating too much dough but I keep coming back for more. It’s just TOO good for me to pass up. Or maybe I just like living on the edge 😉
I love pumpkin in anything. Yet, I haven’t had anything with pumpkin in it, or even flavored with pumpkin. For shame. I hate opening up a can of pumpkin and only using a Tablespoon or 2 and having to toss the rest once it goes bad. I haven’t been in the mood to bake or cook anything lately. For shame!
yes to this anytime!!!
These sound amazing! I love cookies and pumpkin. I usually still shovel regular cookie dough into my mouth. Luckily I have never had any issues with it and hopefully never do! My boyfriends dad is mostly vegan and I’m sure he would love these. It’s always fun to find new treats he can eat.
Pumpkin’d out?! Is that even possible? Not for me ;). I just finished another spaghetti squash and when preparing one it lasts me for about four meals so I was a little worried about being over it afterwards but – no.
Either my mum didn’t warn us or my siblings and I ignored what she said and happily ate cookie dough in anyway even though it always had eggs back in the day. Eating raw dough is still my favourite part of baking only that nowadays it’s always egg-free/vegan so there’s nothing to worry about in the first place. Awesome that you made yours vegan, too – intentionally or not. They look great, too.
I don’t ever remember eating raw cookie dough when I was younger, but I ate the butter when it was mixed with sugar 😆 Even thinking about it now makes me feel kind of sick.
I love an easy and delicious cookie recipe! I think I have made similar cookies to this recipe but will def try yours out! I used to LOVE raw cookie dough until college, when I met my ex-husband (he was my boyfriend at the time) told me over and over how bad it is to eat cookie dough with the raw egg. He ruined my fun. Now, I sometimes make the eggless cookie dough that I use for chocolate truffles and can eat that raw without having to worry.
Cookies are always my go-to dessert, and anything with pumpkin and oats too? Sold.
Sooo…what you’re saying is that I can whip up this batter with the sole intention of eating the dough and never actually bake any cookies? Sold. Maaaybe I’ll squeeze out a cookie or two but no promises. Raw cookie dough is the way to my heart. (:
So these can be dessert after I eat my pumpkin snickerdoodles for dinner right? Yeah I like this idea…Also expect a reply in your inbox tonight!
Pumpkin cookies are basically a serving of veggies, so I think you’re golden 😉
Know what? I have all the ingredients at hand since you made them ‘accidently’ vegan and I am out of milk and eggs. Lucky me – I’ll make them for dessert now!
These look fantastic! I will be trying them this week.
I must confess … I have made batches of cookie dough just so I could eat it.
Well you have your COOKIE dough balls also, (which are like my most favouritest things. Ever), so that’s kiiinda another cookie recipe, maybe?
And remember those coconut flour choc chip cookies you made ages ago & posted about? I adored them & made them tons too…<- ha , look I've started to reminisce about cookies. What can I say, I'm a fellow (hardcore) cookie monster , and proud :).
Mmm! These looks amazing, and doughy (in a good way). Oats & chocolate chips are key components in creating the upmost enjoyable cookie eating experience IMHO .
Xxx
You know what, I literally just came across the recipe for those the other day — I remember loving them! I seriously have to do more experimenting with coconut flour… it can be tricky to work with, but it really adds a lovely texture and flavour to things.
I’m SO with you on making a dozen. Even if it’s the best cookie ever, I’m always ready to bake up something new when they’re gone! I love me some cakey cookies and I’m BEYOND obsessed with pumpkins, so these are just what the doctor ordered. Pinned!
um, do you even have to ask if i am a fan of cakey cookies? Yes, yes i am. Pumpkin chocolate goodness!
I usually shuddet when I read vegan, cause it makes me feel restricted and forced to eat 1 kg vegetables, but well, when I look at these babies I totally want to be vegan!! What a yummy combo!!
Oh and yes, I eat raw cookie dough in big amounts and I will probably die one day from a salmonella infection. At least I will have some chocolate between my teeth!
So I’m going to pull a you because I’m way to lazy to go to the grocery store just to get pumpkin (I’m out..I know I don’t know how long this can last!), so I am going to sub the pumpkin for banana. Love that they’re accidentally vegan!
Banana would actually make for an amazing sub! I would be tempted to go that route as well if I wasn’t trying to keep it fallish for the blog.
I LOVE how these sound, especially the addition of maple syrup – anything wtih maple syrup is definitely okay with me! Yes, I jumped on the pumpkin train months ago and am still loving it! Such a comforting taste and smell. I absolutely love Yankee Candle’s Pumpkin Pie candle.. it smells incredible.
Drooling. And I do love that you can have the raw cookie dough. It’s the simple things! Thanks for the recipe, Amanda!
Okay I am going to have to make those TONIGHT! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t like cookie dough… does that make me weird???? 😉 These look to die for. I will make them with GF flour!
Oh my goodness – these cookies!!! I think these cookies are gonna imspire me to start my very own – very first – link love post!!! Sometimes, technology is so behind the times when you really need it to be ahead…if technology had caught up with everyones thinking – then I could be sampling one of these beauties RIGHT NOW!!!!
I don’t think I could ever be pumpkin’d out – I put pumpkin in my veggies and quinoa concoction last night! As for eggd-raw cookie dough, not a big fan – takes one time of a bad batch to steer me clear! But this – this I could save half to eat while the other half I used to make 6 cookies
As much as I enjoyed the cookies, I have to admit that the raw dough might have been better… but is it strange that I kind of get skeeved out by eating raw flour? Might try subbing in something different to see what I can come up with ….
I love raw cookie dough, but only if it’s egg free – I pretty much don’t use eggs in anything these days because I really just don’t like them.
These look amazing, and I am going to make them this weekend. 100%. Bookmarked, printed and ready to go!
Umm bookmarked! Anything pumpkin + chocolate in cookie form is basically perfection. I’m definitely making these soon, they look phenomenal! I wonder if replacing maple syrup (at least part of it) with some molasses would work too? I’ll try it and let you know
I think it would add an awesome fall flavour! I was honestly considering doing it in the original recipe, but I wanted to keep the ingredients simpler. Let me know if you do end up giving it a go!
I’m just going to ignore the fact that you had no eggs in your house….seriously no eggs? When I get down to 6 its borderline emergency!
This recipe has me craving cookies right now- but I’ll suffice with the oats. I’m actually a fan of the softer cookies- the kabocha ones I experimented with last week came out really soft- but it did contain an egg 😉
We have these cookie dough packets in the supermarket where all you do is slice it up and bake- as a kid I may have gone through half of those before baking….so good- although mum used to always tell me if I ate raw cookie dough I’d get worms lol!
I love how this recipe doesn’t JUST include pumpkin, but it also includes all the pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. What a great idea
I eat cookie dough no matter what… but I am getting a tad pumpkin’ed out. I’m ready for cranberry and orange season!
These look delicious. Love that they’re egg-free (not that I have a problem with eggs) and the batter can be eaten without risk! (I usually take my chances with traditional batter. 29 years, and I haven’t gotten food poisoning yet!) Since I’m not quite pumpkin’ed out yet (been enjoying it in moderation), I need to try these!
Sometimes I make cookie dough simply so I can eat it raw. Never had an issue with food poisoning yet. Knocks on wood.
These look really good, and I’m intrigued by the lack of eggs and using pumpkin puree as a substitute. I’ll be pinning these for when I get around to actually baking and thereby pureeing my pumpkin. One day.
I think cookies would be a good way to use that sucker up — and when chocolate is involved, you won’t even notice you’re eating pumpkin 😉
I mayyy, just may have to make a batch tomorrow. I’m a pumpkin fanatic and don’t think that I could ever get tired of it… Especially if it involves chocolate 😉
I haven’t had raw cookie dough in a very long time, but I am a fan- who isn’t? These cookies look delicious, Amanda.
And no way am I pumpkin’d out yet- I don’t think there’s such a thing as that either. I should really make something with pumpkin in it myself….
<3
I love making vegan cookies just so I can eat all the dough! Well, maybe not all of it but a good amount for sure. These look and sound amazing!
I love raw cookie/cake dough. Even with eggs in it. When I was little mum used to let me eat some with fingers from the empty bowl before washing it. I still haven’t kicked the bucket 😛 Well, maybe it really is better to eat vegan cookie dough because I can eat as much as I want.
I wonder how these taste. So far the only pumpkin thing I’ve eaten is pudding. There’s always pumpkin pudding in the supermarket around Halloween and I love it.
They taste like pumpkin spice, mostly. I find pumpkin to be a pretty subtle flavour that doesn’t shine through all that much. Or maybe I just didn’t add enough pumpkin…
I’m all over these! Two of my favourite foods rolled into one, heaven!
I can see from the pics that these cookies are very moist and soft inside! Beautiful. I’d love to try out this recipe.
These look wonderful! I do eat cookie dough but not when it has eggs in it. (Mainly because I don’t do much with eggs.) Since I haven’t had TOO much with pumpkin yet I am not pumpkin’d out.
YES! I was searching for a good vegan pumpkin choc chip cookie recipe yesterday afternoon and couldn’t find one I liked- these. Perfect. thank you!!
Ok, kid you not, I have been planning to making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for two weeks now, and haven’t settled on a recipe yet…UNTIL NOW! Just bookmarked this bad boy. They look delicious!!!
Woop! I hope you like ’em 😀
i have no cookie recipe on my blog because it never turns out good
I cant wait to try your version – looks marvelous 
These look DIVINE. I am so making them for a youth group retreat this weekend – with chocolate, the kids won’t even care that they’re “healthy.” 😉
Yay! I have all these ingredients. I will be making these soon.
As you know, I don’t eat eggs anymore..but I used to and that NEVER stopped me from wolfing down the raw dough. My mom would always tell me to stop..but I never listened. HA! You can imagine how much more I eat now without the eggs!! These cookies look SO GOOD!! I love pumpkinnnn! Job well done, and I am excited to give these a try.!
oh heck yes. this has my name written all over it, ESPECIALLY considering Im a huge pumpkin baking kick right now. I will be making these this week for sure!
Pumpkin everything in our house these days. Hubs made me some pumpkin risotto today
I’m nearing my limit for pumpkin but I’ve still got a ways to go 
I need to make these cookies!!
Pumpkin risotto?! You’ve definitely got yourself a keeper 😀
Well I need to make these soon… I’ll have to pick up some of the ingredients when I get groceries tomorrow. And pumpkin’d out?! No way…I’m actually craving a pumpkin chai from Caribou Coffee right now. =)
Wow those look so good!!!
I’m certainly not pumpkined out yet. That will be awhile 😉
Cookie dough > Cookies. It’s that’s simple. And eggs or not eggs, I ALWAYS ate the cookie dough.
We are having a bake sale monday at work and all the $ goes to united way, I am going to make these I think!!
these look uh-mazing!
I ain’t skeered of any eggy cookie dough! But I’ll gladly take an egg-free one too! I don’t discriminate…not when it comes to cookies! 😉 Your pictures are gorgeous, girl! Love the one of them all stacked up! A tower of pumpkin-filled deliciousness! Consider these added to the ever growing things to make from your blog list! I am ALL about some chewy (non-cakey) cookies! YUM!
And I’m just about finished with my THIRD jumbo can of pumpkin this month! I’m averaging a can a week and still not tired of it! Bring on the pumpkin!!
Yuuuuuuummmm!!!! I’m gonna add these to my food prep for the week! I think I already have everything which is awesome! I LOVE all things pumpkin! Thanks for sharing:-)
They look so good!
Do you think these would work with almond flour to make tem gluten free?
I’d imagine they’d still taste amazing, but I’m not sure if the texture would be the same. There’s no harm in experimenting, though! I actually want to get in to using more almond/coconut flour myself.
I SO want to make these!! Wondering if anyone has tried making a GF version of this cookie?
OMG! These are simply amazing!! I made two slight changes – I used steel cut oats (soaked first) and I subbed agave for the maple syrup. I doubled the recipe and got about 28 cookies. Simply wonderful!! THANK YOU so much for posting!!
Can I sub the syrup with honey?
Would it be the exact same ratio…1/4 cup?
these look so good!
You definitely could! And yup — same ratio.
Not bad… but I didn’t have chocolate chips, and like you, I didn’t feel like going to the store so I added peanut butter and walnuts. Soooo delicious!!
Isn’t it great when laziness pays off?
M.
Being able to lick bowls clean while baking is one of my favorite things about vegan baking. Oh. and not having allergic reactions to dairy / eggs anymore. That ranks up there high too.
Can I use spelt flour instead of whole wheat?
Absolutely! Any whole grain flour should be fine
I want to make these right this second!!!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recipe was dry and even after adding more pumpkin, vanilla and syrup I could barely make a cookie. I hoped they would melt together but they came out dry. I followed recipe exactly before adding more wet ingredients. They came out dry and not moist and crumbling apart. What went wrong?
I made these at the office today and used carob chips. They were delicious. I made variations with regard to sweetener: I used date paste and I blended it into the pumpkin I had roasted the night before. That was enough sweetness for me.
Now that I am home, I am making them again, and added a bit more of my pumpkin-date pure, omitted the carob chips and added walnuts. Can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Made these after Thanksgiving and they were delicious. Used vegan white chocolate chips instead and yum!! Do you know if they could be made gluten free? Trying to figure out what I could use in place of the whole wheat flour. Any suggestions?
I’m glad you liked them, Gillian! Thanks for letting me know
And I’m pretty sure that you could use an equal amount of oat flour in place of the whole wheat to make them gluten free. Just make sure to use certified GF oats.
I just made these and they are Awesome! I quadrupled my batch and made a few changes I used a maple syrup, agave and molasses comb omitted the salt and added some nuts. Recipe added to my list of favorites.
I’m glad you liked them, Colin! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know
These came out thick, cake-y, and yet oddly dense. And a bit too sweet for me. I have no idea what I did wrong.
Mmm these are amazing! I subbed the syrup with three extra tablespoons of pumpkin and I subbed the flour with a gluten free flour blend. I baked them for 15-18 min and flattened them with a spatula at 12 min. Wow these are unbelievable
thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for these! I did a quick search for pumpkin oatmeal cookies and this baby popped up! I took a leap of faith and made a triple batch and am glad I did! As you say, they are a cakey cookie, but that’s far better than a dry cookie, in my books.
I made them for my quilting group and they were a hit; one friend asked if she could take a few home for her husband and insisted I share the recipe (always good signs).
I swapped raisins for chocolate chips, because I don’t have vegan chips in the house. In future, I might add some nuts or pumpkin seeds for some crunch (I can’t help but play with recipes). This is a keeper.
Now, I’ll cruise the rest of your vegan recipes!
These look and sound amazing! I want to make then but don’t have canola oil! Do u think coconut oil would work instead?
That’s totally be fine, Olivia! Just make sure to melt it first.
Awesome. Thank u for getting back to me
I got pumpkin chocolate chip muffin balls. They came out exactly the way I dropped them on to the cookie sheet! Lol! They didn’t spread out like regular cookies.
OMG. I made these, and then after a few days doubled the recipe and made them again. They are by far the best cookies I’ve ever made! So delectable and there is NO WAY you can stop at one. I fed some non-vegans at work and they loved the cookies. Only adjustment I made was zest in fresh organic ginger in the liquids prior to combining to the dry mix.
Will make these always.
Thanks for a wonderful recipe.
I’m so glad you liked them, Kay! Thanks for taking the time to let me know 😀 And fresh ginger sounds like an AMAZING addition.